Johnny Herbert revealed the extent of the attacks he received from Max Verstappen fans after questioning the Dutch driver’s conduct in some Formula 1 duels. The former F1 driver and former FIA commissioner said he even received messages containing death threats.
Herbert, who stepped down from the FIA commissioner role at the end of the 2024 season, said the reaction followed remarks about what he described as Verstappen’s “horrendous mindset” when the Dutchman is racing wheel-to-wheel for positions. According to the Briton, the attacks originated initially from Dutch fans, but came from supporters in other countries as well.
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“The Dutch fans who didn’t like me questioning Max Verstappen. In fact, they weren’t only Dutch. They were from other countries as well: ‘Death to Herbert’. They were the worst. They accuse me of being biased. They still do this to Martin Brundle,” Herbert said, referring to the former F1 driver and current commentator.
Herbert also pushed back against accusations that his Formula 1 coverage would be marked by a supposed British bias, particularly regarding Lewis Hamilton. Herbert acknowledged his support for his compatriot, but he stated that it does not prevent an objective analysis.
“They say, ‘You’re biased towards Lewis Hamilton.’ Well, we’re British, and Lewis is British. You’re Dutch and you support Max, and you’re saying we’re biased, but you want us to back Max. They can’t have both. Of course we’ll root for a British driver, but that is objective,” he added.
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Herbert went on, saying there is also admiration for Verstappen and used football to illustrate his stance: “If England were playing against the Netherlands in football, obviously I would support England,” he added.
After stepping down from the FIA commissioner post, the Brit no longer needs to uphold the same neutrality required during race weekends, although his statements could lead to decisions taken during his tenure to be viewed through a more critical lens.
Jake Thompson
I'm Jake Thompson, a motorsport journalist born and raised in North Carolina, where NASCAR weekends were basically family holidays. I’ve been covering everything from Formula 1 to rally raids for over a decade, blending sharp analysis with a fan’s heart. For me, writing about racing isn’t just a job — it’s the best seat in the house.
